Liz was waiting when the car pulled up to the hotel. Sigyn stepped out first, not waiting as Loki followed behind.

Sigyn looked up and down the street. The roads were relatively empty, the traffic in and out of the hotel was much less than Sigyn would have expected for a top-rated extended stay tower of suites. The city that never sleeps seemed to have quieted down, no distant sound of cars or subways rumbling beneath the streets.

"It worked then," Sigyn said.

"Just like you said it would," Liz answered, smiling at her.

"If there's something I've learned after living 200 years it's that people really don't like being around areas that are expected to explode. I'm glad they took the hint." Sigyn looked up, finding the blue jet of light that shot up into the sky.

It wasn't a portal yet, but it would be within the next few hours. After spending hours talking to Loki about the best way to save people's lives but also make sure that the invasion still happened, Sigyn knew a warning signal would get most people moving. There would always be the idiots who didn't take the signs, but this way Sigyn knew they were going to be trying to save as many lives as possible.

Sigyn didn't acknowledge Loki as he came to stand beside her. Instead, she turned away and walked into the hotel. "Which room are we set up in? I need to change out of these clothes and take a nap before everything starts to happen."

"I'll show you." Sigyn followed Liz to the elevator, glaring at Loki as he followed as well.

The elevator ride was tense as it climbed up ten floors before stopping with a ding. Liz stepped out and the other two followed. Three doors down the hall stood a man dressed in a black combat outfit, and Sigyn guessed that would be the suite that had been set up for them. Liz took a keycard from her pocket, opening the door, and allowed Sigyn to step into the lavish front room.

It was nicer than most places Sigyn had stepped foot in. Her childhood home had been well decorated, but this was rich. Two couches, a television, a beautiful oak table with matching chairs. In the bedroom, Liz had directed her to was a large oak bed, and more furnishings than Sigyn could imagine using.

After a few moments taking in the room, Sigyn grabbed some clothes from a folded stack on the dresser and went into the attached bathroom for a shower. When she had redressed, she re-entered the bedroom, only to find Loki sitting in an armchair, staring forlornly out the window.

"I apologize if my comment from earlier hurt you." Sigyn stared at the side of his face for a moment, surprised to hear the words come out of his mouth.

"I appreciate you saying that, but it's not the only reason I'm angry."

Sigyn stocked over to the dresser, picking up the brush and pulling it through her hair.

"What is it that you're angry about?"

"You killed that man."

"Indeed I did."

"There was no reason for that. He was just trying to stop you from dropping Thor."

"I couldn't let him stop me."

Sigyn finished brushing her hair and put the brush back down with a snap. "But there was still no reason to kill him."

Loki didn't say anything as Sigyn walked to the window, pulled the curtains shut, then walked to the bed. She pulled the covers down as she forcefully said, "And what was that with your brother? There was no need to be so cruel to him."

"We needed him out of the way."

"And he was pretty well out of the way. But then you had to go and drop him out of an aircraft over ten thousand feet in the air!" Sigyn paused, taking a deep breath, then climbed into the bed. Sigyn switched the lights off and turned on her side to face Loki. She could see him from the faint light showing through the curtains.

"I know it probably wasn't all you, that whoever has you under mind control is still affecting you. We both know all that with Thor was more than that. I know you have resentment and anger towards him, but he's still your brother. But that's for a later conversation. I'm exhausted and so are you. We both know they will be here soon. You might as well rest up before they get here."

Loki didn't say anything, and Sigyn couldn't see his expression in the dim light. She didn't feel like using her energy to find out what he was thinking. She needed rest if the battle was about to begin. He deserved privacy anyway.

"Wake me up in an hour, would you?"

In the end, there was no need for Loki to wake Sigyn from her short sleep. A sudden pulse of energy rushed into the bedroom, causing Sigyn to startle awake so violently she fell to the floor. She knew that energy had become very accustomed to it. It was the cube, the cube that had shown her the path she was now taking. Sigyn stood, looking to were Loki was still sitting in the armchair. From the look on his face, she knew that he had felt the pulse too.

"The army is ready," Loki said.

Sigyn nodded. "Then it's time we get started."

Out of the dresser, Sigyn pulled out simple clothes, durable and sturdy because Sigyn knew this battle was going to be destructive. Loki had left the bedroom by the time Sigyn stepped out of the bathroom, and she heard his voice through the slightly open bedroom door.

His voice was soft when he spoke. "...responsibility. You are to protect her, no matter the cost. If one Chitauri harms her, this battle will be the last thing any of you experience."

After a moment, a collective "Yes sir," filled the room, followed by the slamming of the outside door. Sigyn left the room, unsurprised to find Loki in the same green armor he had worn in Germany.

Loki caught her entrance into the room out of the corner of his eye and turn to look at her. "I don't care that you can take care of yourself. You're not to argue this arrangement."

"I wasn't going to."

Loki studied her, looking at her expression to make sure she was telling the truth, the sturdy clothing she was wearing along with the boots covering her feet. In turn, she studied him. Instead of her eyes running over his face and clothing, she focused on his mind, finding his emotions neatly arranged, locked away. He was focused, ready for the first sign that the group of heroes from S.H.I.E.L.D. had followed the clues and finally made their way to Stark Tower.

"You listen to me," Sigyn said, stepping forward until there was a foot of space between them. She looked up at him, and he down at her, as Sigyn pointed a single finger at his chest. "I don't care how hard they try to take your mind from you again. I don't care if they dig up old feelings or memories or try to torture you. Whatever they do, you fight like hell. You are mine now. You do what you have to do. But don't let them take you from me."

Sigyn's eyes remained dry though she was sure a small tear had almost escaped from the corner of Loki's eye. The bond between them thrummed with energy. The combination of Loki's closeness and the deep connection of the bond caused Sigyn's heart to start beating so hard she was sure Loki would hear it. Her face warmed in excitement.

"Remember what I taught you. Allow no one close enough to do you harm. The Chitauri are relentless, do not fear your power. Trust your instincts. Never have you seen a battle like this, do not let it overwhelm you. I have become dependent on your presence. I don't intend to lose it."

Sigyn reached forward, smoothing a piece of Loki's hair back into place. She smiled faintly, thinking that his hair probably took more maintenance than hers did. On seeing the small smile grace Sigyn's lips, Loki reached forward to frame Sigyn's face with his hands. As he tilted her head up, he bent down, his breath gently brushing over his lips. Sigyn held her breath and Loki purposefully paused for effect before he finally closed the distance.

In that moment, everything Sigyn had been worrying about, everything from her past, disappeared. The only thing that mattered was this moment, this small slice of time that was completely theirs. His hands-on her face was firm, holding her in place where she might have melted. The hand that had been pointing at his chest now rested there, just over his racing heart. She brought her other hand around his neck, pulling him down farther, wanting to draw him as close as she could.

Sigyn was vaguely aware of the door clicking open and someone entering the room, but she couldn't bring herself to acknowledge them. It was a pointed cough and a clearing of a throat before Sigyn finally pulled away from Loki, but only far enough to see who it was. She didn't recognize the man, but he was dressed in the standard black uniform.

"Iron man has been spotted on radar."

Loki took a deep breath, backing away. "It's started." He straightened up, looking directly at the man in uniform. "Tell the others."

Loki turned to Sigyn, looking at her with blue fire in his eyes. And for once, at last, that fire was all Loki. Sigyn gave him a wide smile. "Fight like hell," she told him.

"Stay safe."

And with a final look, Loki followed the man.

Sigyn took one last deep breath before stepping outside the room. Standing there, waiting, were six people, dressed in the same black uniforms. One of them, Sigyn was happy to know, was Liz. And not a single one of them was under Loki's control.

"Liz," Sigyn said. "It's nice to finally meet the real, unbrainwashed, you."

"I'm still me," Liz smiled. "I just don't have to answer to Loki anymore. But it will be an honor fighting next to you."

Sigyn nodded. "I'm grateful. And the rest of you, what are your names?"

"James Matthews"

"Levi Richardson."

"Kenneth Fischer."

"Mike Jacobs."

"Melinda Weber."

"Matthews, Richardson, Fischer, Jacobs, Weber," Sigyn recited back to them. "It's wonderful to meet you. If we live through this I'll be sure to thank you personally. For now, follow me. I'll fill you in on the plan during the ride down."

Sigyn led the way to the elevator, describing the details of what she had planned. By the time the group of seven reached the ground floor a blue light had risen from stark tower and opened a portal. The darkness of space could be seen through it. Sigyn could feel the incredible power it took to open that doorway, and to keep it open. But this was part of the plan. This had to happen for things to work out the best way possible.

"Alright," Sigyn said, her attention turning to the street the group had stepped onto. "Let's get started."